Battery.



W. H. FENOUGHTY.

BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1913.

1 ,O75,556, Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. H. KFENOUGHTY.

BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1913.

Patented Oct; 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WILLIAM H. FENOUG-HTY, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CARBON &; BATTERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

BATTERY.

Application filed May 12, 1913 Serial No. 766,976.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. FB- NOUGHTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to batteries and more particularly to a device whereby a plurality of dry cells of usual construction, may be received and rotected and when once slipped into position are so related to the conducting springs and like members of the container, that they are automatically connected up. in proper manner as soon as the container is closed.

To obtain'these and other objects, the invention comprises a weather proof casing,

suitable for convenient transportation and adapted for use in connection with automobiles, motor boats, etc., where a and rugged battery equipment isdesirable, this container being divided into compartments, into each of which a dry cell of usual construction may be introduced, the container also being provided with a cover carrying springs, clips, and switch elements, whereby the closing of the cover can be made to connectthe dry. cells in series or series multiple without the necessity for manipulating any binding posts or terminals v of the cells.

The details of the invention will become clear from the following description, which is to be taken in conjunction with the ac companying drawings, wherein- Flgure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, showing the container with its cover closed. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the cover closed. Fig. 3

is a sectional elevation through the structure shown in Fig.2. Fig. 4 is an end sec tional elevation of the same, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sect-ion showingv the cells as viewed from'below.

In the modification illustrated, the device comprises a container} which preferably'is of sheet metal, oval in shape and of suitable size to receive twodry cells 2 and 3.

Each of these-cells may be of ordinary con I struction with a zinc envelop and a carbon rod with a brassterminal cap and stud. The sheet metal container 1, preferably has its side walls lined with suitable insulating material, such as a layer 4-. of fiber or the like,

i Specification of Letters Patent.

portable Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

and the bottom of the container may covered with a heavy plate 5 of fiber. A partition 6 arranged transversely of the container, divides it into two compartments and separates the dr cells, one from the other. Extending diagonally across the bottom of each compartment and adapted to bear on the zinc bottom of the drycell is a spring contact finger 7 of copper, brass or the like, which has its down-turned portion 8 seated and held in a slot in the fiber bottom of the compartment, this member extending upwardly along the partition of the container to the top thereof, where it terminates in a contact plate 9, which issupplemented by a short side plate 10,

spaced therefrom and forming therewith a spring clip to receive a contact member carried by the cover.

The cover for the container may be suitably hinged and may be provided at its front with a lock 11. The cover is'preferably of sheet metal, shaped to form a.

weather proof closure for the top of container 1 and lined with a fiber block 12, surmounted by a pair of terminals 13 and 14 of usual construction, insulated from the sheet metal top and having their studs extended through to engage and establish electrical connection with contact plates carried on the under face of. the insulating, block 12. Terminal 14 is connected ,"Wlth a contact plate 15 which is cut and shaped to form a switch blade, adapted to swing down into contact with the adjacent; conductor onthe container partition. nected with a metal strip 16, which is shaped with a return bend. and has its forked end positioned to swing down into cont-act with the brass terminal cap of the battery cell 2,, the forked end of the plate-straddling the screw stud, which in ordinary practice is to be found on the dry cell. Iii-addition to the plates 15 and 16, there is provided another plate or strip 17 serving-as a connection from one cellto the other. This plate is bent as shown in Fig.1 and is provided at one end with a forkedend 18 fgr contact with thebrass cap of the .carbon .electrode of eell -3 and has its other end-19' shaped into a spring clip adapted to swing Terminal 13 is conthe batterycells "are disconnected; from one another and from the wires'which may be I permanently attached tobindi'n'g posts 13 and 14;, lVhen the cover is swung down into operative position, the spring conductor 17 seats on the cap of cell 2,-establishingiconnection between the binding-"post 13 andthe carbon electrode and at the same time plate 15 goes in between its adjacent switch plates 9 and 10, establishing connection between terminal 14 and a zinc electrode,-and at the same time the member l7-establishesa cross connection-between the zinc electrode of cell 2 and the carbon electrode of cell. 3,.

if hereby putting the two cells in series and impressing on the terminals 13ml 14, the total voltage'ot the two cells. The arrangement is such that new cells-can be slipped into place as renewals for old ones, and similar changes and adjustments may be made Without disconnecting the current delivery wires from terminals 13 and 14 and without the inconvenience of adjusting anyst-nds or terminal caps.- 'lVithin the container, the connecting and disconnecting action is wholly automatic and'dependent on the position ot' the cover, whether closed or. open. I claim-: 1 r

*1. A container shaped to receive a pair of dry cells, a conductor contacting'with, the

bottom of each' of said cells and terminating I near the-top thereof'in a contact device, a

hinged cover for said container, terminals carried thereby, a pair of plates positioned on said cover to establish connection'with; suitable electrodes of said cells when the cover is swung into closed position, and a cross connecting plate/also carried by said cover and effective when the cover is closed tom ot the adjacent cell.

to place said cells in series across vsaid terminals by connecting one inner electrode with a conductor contacting with the bot- 2.,The combination of a weatherproof metal container'having a hinged cover, said;

container being divided into a pair of compartments and insulated toreceive and hold a .pair of dry cells, a conductive member whereoneach cell rests,-said members ex tendingupward to the top of said partition and terminating in a contact device, a cross vconnecting member carried by said cover.

and operative when the cover is closed to" connect one of said contact devices with the center electrode of ansadjacen t cell, termi nals carried by said cover and contact plates positioned to connect said. cells in series across said terminals when the, cover swung'into closed position:

3. ln combination, a weather-proof container having a hinged cover, a plurality ofdry cells in said container and'eachresting in contact with a conductive stripwli1ch terminates near the top of the'cell in acon-- tact blade,a pair of terminals carried by said cover, a spring plate connected-to. one of contact with a center electrode of one of said cells,- a plate connectedwith the other terminal and positioned to contact with the blade'of the conductor leading to the bottom of the adjacent cell, and a cross connecsald terminals and adapted to s'wingjinto' iaison-carried bysaid cover and positioned to establish contact betweenadjacent cellswhen the cover of the container is closed. 4.. Thefcombination of a container divided into a plurality of compartments, a dry cell in each compartment, a resilient contact strip whereon each cellrests, said strips terminating near the topof said container in suitable contact devices, a cover for said container, terminals carried by. said cover,

resilientthe center electrodes of said cells, one of said strips being positioned to serve as across connection between said. cells, and a third metal strip carriedby said coverand permanently in connection with one of'said terminals.

A container for dry batteries comprising a weather proof oblong envelop-having a hinged coverand a non-conductive lining,

a partition dividing said envelop into two compartments wherein dry cells may be re, ceived and protected,a metal strip for each compartment with which the outer electrode of the cell may contact, the upper ends of said strips being shaped to formcontact .clips, a pair of terminals carried by said covervand three metal strips carried by the insulating lining of said cover, one of said strips serving as a cross conni ction between metal strips carried by said cover. I and positioned to contact respectively with i saidcells when the cover is closed and the other strips serving to connect said terminals respectively with the appropriate electrodes of said cell's,

.- 6. The combination of a weather proof container divided into compartments and having a cover, said compartments be ng cell, a metal, plate in each. compartment whereon the cell may rest, a conductor'leading fromsaid supporting plate to'the top of 1 the container, Y 'a pair, of terminals carried by said cover,.a spring cgip connected with '1 10 each adapted'to receive and protecta dry one of said terminals an having its bifurcated end positioned to yieldinglycontact with the center electrode of one of said cells,

a erpss connection carried by said cover and havinga bifurcated end positioned. tocon sheet with and establish a connection vto a central electrode of another cell, and-a third conductor cari ied by said cover and ar- "ranged to establish connection between the second terminal and one of the battery elec- 1 trodes when the cover is. close 7. The combination of azweatlier proof i metal containerhaving a hinged coverand means for locking. said cover in closed .po-

sition, said container being of oval shape carried by said cover and shaped to establish with a transverse partition forming comyielding contact with the center electrode of partments adapted to receive a pair of dry the other cell and also engaging one of the 20 cells, a dry cell in each of said compartments, conductors carried by the partition of the a conductive strip for each compartment container and thereby serving to connect and contacting with the bottom of the zinc condisconnect the center electrode of one cell taincr in that compartment and extending from'the outer electrode of the adjacent cell upwardly to the top of said partition and whenever the cover is swung into closed po- 25 terminating in a contact clip, terminals carsition. 1o ried by the cover of said container, a spring In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe strip connected to one of said terminals and my name'to this specification in the presence positioned to swing into contact With the of two witnesses.

center electrode of one of said cells when WILLIAM H. FENOUGHTY the cover is closed, a plate connected with 15 the other terminal and positioned to contact Witnesses:

with one of the conductors carried by said CARL HAMBUGHEN,

partition, and a resilient cross connection Cine. 0. MAYER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,075,556, granted October 14, 1913, upon, the application'of William H. .Fenoughty, of Belleville, Illinois, for an improvement in Batteries, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 39, for the word closed read raised; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. Signed and sealed this 11th dayof Novemher,-A. D., 1913.

[sEAL.] i R. T. FRAZ'IER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

sition, said container being of oval shape carried by said cover and shaped to establish with a transverse partition forming comyielding contact with the center electrode of partments adapted to receive a pair of dry the other cell and also engaging one of the 20 cells, a dry cell in each of said compartments, conductors carried by the partition of the a conductive strip for each compartment container and thereby serving to connect and contacting with the bottom of the zinc condisconnect the center electrode of one cell taincr in that compartment and extending from'the outer electrode of the adjacent cell upwardly to the top of said partition and whenever the cover is swung into closed po- 25 terminating in a contact clip, terminals carsition. 1o ried by the cover of said container, a spring In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe strip connected to one of said terminals and my name'to this specification in the presence positioned to swing into contact With the of two witnesses.

center electrode of one of said cells when WILLIAM H. FENOUGHTY the cover is closed, a plate connected with 15 the other terminal and positioned to contact Witnesses:

with one of the conductors carried by said CARL HAMBUGHEN,

partition, and a resilient cross connection Cine. 0. MAYER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,075,556, granted October 14, 1913, upon, the application'of William H. .Fenoughty, of Belleville, Illinois, for an improvement in Batteries, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 39, for the word closed read raised; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. Signed and sealed this 11th dayof Novemher,-A. D., 1913.

[sEAL.] i R. T. FRAZ'IER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

